A/N: I'm sorry, there were mocks, as in the A-Level mocks with your predicted grades for uni, so apologies for the late update.
Twenty Years Ago, Argo City, Krypton
The little four-year-old girl placed her chubby hands on the black and white keys of the grand piano in the living room, and slowly pressed them. Delighted with the chime they made, and that each key produced a different sound, she continued pressing them.
Moments later, she "discovered" the sequence keys for a song, and a familiar tune erupted.
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little star,
How I wonder what you are.
As she finished, a larger hand joined her on the piano, playing a series of more complex notes that complemented her playing perfectly. She looked past the long, slim yet strong fingers.
A young man, his hair brown and short, his eyes blue and sparkling, his smile kind and bright. Her mother stood beside him, telling her wordlessly that he was safe to be around.
Once they stopped, her mother turned towards her, "This is Kem-Ten, your new piano teacher."
"Pleased to meet you, Kara Zor-El. You're a natural."
Present Day
"I know we're hearing the same thing six times repeatedly, but please try not to fall asleep this time?"
"No promises Kara, no promises."
The two of them burst out into giggles, and headed towards the elevators.
It had been a week since they were officially paired up, and so far it had been amazing. The two of them worked together seamlessly like the two hands of a concert pianist. They had tackled a couple of breaking news stories from around town, and finally it was the big day.
Kara slid on the sling over her arm, and put on her coat.
"Um, Kara," Nia pointed at her neck. Kara looked at her with a confused look, and instead Nia reached over and smoothed down her collar, which stuck up when the strap nicked it.
"Oh, thanks. Now let's go hail a cab."
They stepped out of the yellow taxi in front of the concert hall. Walking into the lobby, it was once again bustling with people. In fact, it was even more crowded. She wasn't that surprised. It was the finals, after all.
The doors weren't open yet, and they stood there awkwardly, waiting for it to happen. When suddenly, she heard someone yell, "Kara? Is that you?"
The aforementioned Kara turned towards the person who called her name, "Miss Luthor! What brings you here?"
"I may run a tech company, but my family has always been a patron of the arts. Hence why L-Corp is sponsoring this event. And, please, call me Lena, you saved my life after all."
"It'll take a while, but I'll try. Old habits die hard," Kara replied.
Nia stifled a laugh, more than a week in, and Kara still addressed her as Miss Nal, even though she had asked her to call her Kara.
It was then that Lena noticed the cast on Kara, "Want me to sign?"
Nia butted in, "Half the office already did."
Kara smiled, sticking out her arm, "Nothing profane or dirty please."
Lena took out a pen from her bag and found a blank spot, beginning to write.
As the words formed, so did the surprised look on Kara's face. It wasn't English. It was like looking back at her past. It was Kryptonian, "How did you know?"
"Your surname, El, I thought it sounded familiar. You're Zor El's daughter right? The CEO of Fortress Entertainment?"
"Y...yeah. How do you know that?"
"We've met briefly. In Metropolis more than a decade ago, I was around twelve then. It was also Liszt, right?"
"How old are you?"
"Twenty seven."
Kara did the math in her head, twenty seven minus twelve is fifteen. She was twenty four now, so she would have been nine then. She didn't move to the US until she was fifteen or sixteen, so what was she doing in Metropolis then? She wracked her brain, when suddenly it came to her. The West Atlantic Juniors, one of many times she played Liebestraum. "Oh that time, I'm afraid it was so long ago that I nearly forgot," she would have facepalmed, but she knew better than to plan another trip to the hospital.
Lena laughed, capping her pen. On the fibreglass, she had written, "Get Well Soon" in Kryptonian above her signature.
Kara's smile grew, "Nahkluv."
It was then that the bell rang, and an announcement was made that the doors were opening. "It's free seating, want to go together? It'll be nice to have a friendly face around." Lena asked her.
Kara shuffled her feet, "Actually, we're here working, non just for fun, feature article. If you don't mind the two of us talking when you're listening."
"Well, having my actual life-saver near me makes me feel much safer."
The three of them sat down in the middle of the auditorium, where the sound would hit them with full force straight from the piano and when reflected from the surrounding walls.
Suddenly, the lights turned off and a single spotlight was focused on the piano in center stage. From the overhead speakers, a voice said, "Welcome to the finals of the National City International Piano Competition, today we have our six finalists playing Franz Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2."
Kara shook her head as Li Yixin finished playing. It was mediocre at best. There was nothing special, no "wow" moment, nothing that drew her into the performance. The Sascha Rochev was similar and she silently prayed the next few were not as pathetic.
She got her hopes up high too soon. Dietfried Scheiner even made a few nervous mistakes.
Sighing, she leaned back in her seat and waited for the intermission announcement, now that they had reached halfway.
The lights had turned on and she glanced at Nia who stretched. Lena on the other side of her was looking at the empty stage thoughtfully.
"So, that was," Nia thought of a word.
"Boring and pathetic?" Kara suggested.
Nia nodded frantically.
"I feel like I'm missing something here," Lena asked the two of them.
"Kara showed me dozens of versions of this piece. There wasn't anything special with these three."
"And at first, I thought they were quite spectacular, knowing that I'm not as good, not being a professional," Lena pondered.
"But first, um, I think I need to go to the restroom," whispered Nia.
Kara laughed, "We can't say no to the call of nature."
After a brief trip to the ladies, they headed over to the refreshments table, and were subsequently approached by a number of people who had recognized Lena. Some of them were fellow journalists that noticed their press badges and looked at the CatCo duo disdainfully.
"Miss Luthor, what brings you here?"
"L-Corp is sponsoring this event."
It was then that Kara darted away, seeing J'onn nearby. "Hey!"
When she skidded to a stop in front of him, he eyed her cast, "So, you've injured yourself again. What happened?"
"Fell down on the street, nothing big."
"I have a feeling there's more to that."
"Perhaps. Although I'm here to ask you what you think about the first three candidates, and who you think will win."
"All six finalists were meticulously chosen from the hundreds who signed applied. Until I can listen to the next three people play, I won't be able to answer your question."
"Thought so, had to give it a go though. See you later." She waved her hand and walked back into the concert hall where Nia was waiting for her.
"Why did you ditch me? I had to listen to other people ask Miss Luthor questions that belong on a tabloid."
"Sorry, had to talk to J'onn."
At that moment, the lights darkened, and the curtains were drawn back, "It's about to begin, anyway, where's Miss Luthor?"
"Said she had work to do, and left early."
Kara nodded, and turned her head to the performers.
Kousei Arima walked up on stage, and bowed, "It's that guy," breathed Nia. He sat down, adjusted his chair and placed his hands to the keyboard. Finally, there was some emotion to Liszt's work.
His trills were light, his chords heavy, but they did nothing to resemble the rolling rivers or solid mountains. It felt different, much like a love story between to youngsters. The puppy love that overflowed in middle and high schools across the globe. A thought struck Kara, he was playing for the girl, the love he lost all those years ago. He was playing for that girl in his heart, he was playing with that girl in his heart.
The Michael Matthews went up. It was a well-known fact that Liszt was a showman, he was virtuosic and flamboyant. It was also a fact that Liszt's father forced him to practice with a metronome so the correct tempo was achieved. Mon-El achieved all of that, yet despite Liszt being like that as a performer, she was doubtful that that was what he was feeling when composing Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2.
Lastly, it was what she was looking forward to. Let's see whether Querl had taken her words to heart.
His opening was solid, his trills light and airy. It had seemed like the mountains, rivers and cities, much like that time he had played at her piano. He had listened to her and practiced it so it didn't come off as awkward but instead seemed intuitional. It was going well, just don't screw up and suddenly revert back to his old self.
At that climactic end, she breathed a sigh of relief, it was exactly how she would have played it. She wouldn't be surprised if he had gone online and found a video of her version, there were plenty of those.
"That last one sounded familiar, it sounds like someone I should know."
"Yeah, it resembles Kara Zor-El's version."
"Is he her secret pupil? I wouldn't be surprised though, there's been some rumors."
"Dunno."
She sat there in the hospital waiting room, staring at the fibreglass on her hand. It would be the last day today, if she was in luck.
A nurse walked up to her, "Kara Zor El, is it?" At Kara's nod, she continued, "the doctor will see you now."
And Kara followed her into the consultation room.
The doctor, a young man in scrubs and a white coat, was looking at some X-rays, this time of a hand. She had a hunch it was hers.
"Sit, please, I've been reviewing the scans we just performed, your wrist is healing up nicely. And your shoulder should be in tip top condition after some physiotherapy. I'm happy to announce that you can have the cast removed today, but you'll still need to wear the sling for a while."
"Okay. When can I start PT?"
"As soon as possible would be best, do you want me to phone down for an appointment today?"
"Sure, I've been given the day off."
And at that moment, the doctor took out the saw, and placed it on her forearm. Turning on the power, the saw cut through her cast, and after that he snipped away the lining using a pair of fabric scissors.
"All done."
Kara wiggled her fingers, it felt awkward, much like the body part didn't belong to her, much like using her prosthetic.
"It'll feel much more natural with more physio. You're booked in for 2pm, by the way."
"Thank you so much," she thanked the doctor as she stood up and headed out for her lunch.
Sitting at a desk, the physiotherapist took out a machine with a digital screen, "This measures the amount of force generated from your hand grip, I'll need you to grip between the two bars."
Kara wrapped her hand around the hand grip device and squeezed it as hard as she could.
The physiotherapist, "Just as I thought, on the weaker end, but by looking at the veins on your hand, I can tell your grip is usually much stronger than that."
"Oh, I used to play the piano. Haven't practiced in ages though," she replied.
"No wonder, I can see the pianist in you, the long, slim fingers, we'll work them up so you can play again."
Kara laughed, "Well, if you haven't noticed, I'm literally missing a hand."
The physiotherapist's eyes widened, and instead she changed the subject, "Flexibility is easier to regain than strength, so we'll work on that first. I'll demonstrate and you can follow these stretches. Since you don't have a left hand, a wall or table can substitute."
Kara's eyes sparkled, healthcare personnel seemed to not bat an eye at the remains of her wartime injury. They probably saw more than their fair share of similar cases. At the end of the two hour session, she had finished a few stretches for her wrist, and some for her shoulder. She was utterly drained.
Now that her hand was out of the cast, she knew she had to start hitting the gym again, she was definitely out of shape.
Taking out her phone, she noticed the two missed calls from Alex and decided to text her, scheduling the next sister night two days from then.
Fifteen Years Ago, Argo City, Krypton
She ran, her long coat flapping behind her, gripping her backpack straps tightly. She glanced behind her, and continued at the same pace, running along the empty boulevard. The sound of rumbling in the background made her pick up her pace. She swerved around the corner just as a bomb dropped a few metres back. The shockwave sent her flying a few feet ahead, tumbling to the ground.
But there was no time to be crying over skinned knees. She picked herself up and continued running.
Just as another bomb dropped a mile or so back, she scrambled over the wire fence and went past the final two blocks. Pushing open the gate, she dashed up the stairs, opening the door into their apartment.
"Jeju, I'm home! First place!" She walked into the living room, ready to show her mother her new medal. But she was met with silence.
Looking around, she saw a lot of unfamiliar faces. Men in uniforms not unlike her own. Except, instead, they were wearing red jackets.
Kandorians. Sagitari.
How did they enter her home? Why were they here?
It was then that she noticed her mother and a man on the sofa. The man held a pistol in his hand, and twirled it aimlessly as he questioned her.
A soldier walked up to him, "Colonel, the brat is back."
Kara huffed, she was no brat, her mother, aunt and teachers often regarded her as polite and disciplined, she was their little soldier.
The colonel placed his gun back in its sheath and walked up to her, kneeling so he matched her height. Using his thumb and forefinger, he brought her face up to his, "Ah yes, perfect, I heard you shout that you got first place, right? May I enquire in what competition?"
Now looking back, she sure was naive, and instead, took shrugged off her bag, taking out the medal, "West Krypton Piano Competition", it said.
"So, what did you play today, kid?"
"Chopin! Prelude Number Four!"
"Well, play it for me," he drawled, as Kara climbed up to the piano and began playing like she did earlier that day. It was a melancholic piece. A piece about death, despair, the utter lack of hope. It was also one of Chopin's easiest pieces to play, technically, with no trills, large jumps and mostly legato chords. But one of the most difficult to get right emotionally. Hence why the composer himself requested it be played at his funeral.
As she ended on the final E-minor chord, she turned around and looked at her mother, seeing tears in her eyes, overwhelmed at just how suitable the music was at their current situation.
Instead, the colonel stormed over to her and slapped her on the cheek, "You dare play something so depressing?! The army needs to be motivated, not reminded of loss!"
She looked up at him, "You are from Kandor, I am an Argovian," she blurted out.
It was the wrong thing to say. Her mother gulped and the colonel slapped her again, this time so strongly that she fell off the piano bench and onto the ground.
"You will learn your position, child. So this might be easier asking you than your mother. Has your aunt told you anything about what is happening a few weeks from now."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
The colonel pointed a gun at Alura as another soldier held her back. "I know you're hiding something kid, I can just feel it, talk, and I'll let your mother go."
Kara glanced at her mother, "Don't say anything," she mouthed.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh really, kid? I'll ask you one last time did your aunt tell you anything about what is happening a few weeks from now."
"Sir, I seriously do not know."
Bang!
The gun was fired.
"No!" Kara yelled. Tears started to cloud her vision. The soldiers turned to discuss something between themselves, and she scrambled over to her mother's slumped form.
"Kara," she coughed out, "Don't trust anyone, only your aunt." Her father had been out of the picture for years, since he had relocated the business overseas years ago.
"Yes, Jeju, I understand, I won't fail you."
"I'll be with you in your dreams, every step of the way."
"Yes, Jeju," tears streamed out of her eyes as she held her mother's hand until it went slack.
Moments later, she felt the Kandorians literally drag her from her kneeling position. "The primus has something to do with her."
Well, Harry, you're not alone in seeing the thestrals now.
A/N: Yes, I ended with a reference to the classic series Harry Potter, I've always been a fan, it introduced me to thicker, pictureless books that were actually fun to read.
Translations to English
(From Kryptonian) Nahkluv - Thank you
(From Kryptonian) Jeju - mother